Farmers raise fears over new Reef rules

NEW run-off laws for the Great Barrier Reef will sour Queensland’s sugar cane industry, farmers have warned.

Lobbyists have slammed the Palaszczuk Government’s new Environmental Protection (Great Barrier Reef Protection Measures) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill.

Canegrowers Queensland’s Paul Schembri said the agricultural reform could see farmers “demotivated” and not wanting to “continue the journey of environmental sustainability”.

He said it added to the burden of drought, lack of water, and regulations on farming across the state.

Farmers will have to meet new run-off regulations in at least five catchment areas of the Great Barrier Reef, including the Wet Tropics, Burdekin, Mackay Whitsunday, Fitzroy and Burnett Mary regions.

Canegrowers must keep detailed soil tests and records of fertiliser and chemical use in order to minimise run-off.

About 14,000 farmers across the state – including 4500 canegrowers – are expected to be impacted.

Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch said the reform would help reduce sediment pollution of the water in the catchment areas and improve the health of the Reef.

Mr Schembri said the changes would result in thousands of farmers being “bureaucratically handcuffed” to unworkable legislation.

Ms Enoch has repeatedly claimed the legislation will allow the State Government to ensure the protection of the Reef and the thousands of jobs that rely on its health.

The Department of Science’s latest Water Quality Report Card revealed there was poor progress toward the land management practice targets across all Queensland industries and water quality targets were “very poor”.

Ms Enoch said farmers would be entitled to $10.1 million in rebates to get advice for meeting the new laws.